free-range politics, organic community

zoebear saying goodbye and Anja saying hello!

As a crew member at Trader Joe's, I have dozens and dozens of conversations about food each day that have inevitably made their way back here as I promote C99 via the Tuesday Open Threads.

Recently, I had a conversation with a women who runs a dozen social media accounts for the film industry, as well as her own international projects. She was very excited about the topics I am writing here and expressed an interest in sharing them with her very large following.

While I am a little sad to let go of the nom de plume I've used since I've been here, writing under my own name and creating a body of work that I can conceivably use in an online portfolio, feels right. So, let me introduce myself before you see the name change above my little heart shaped tree, and take the time to say goodbye to zoebear and hello to Anja, the gal who loves to cook and write.

Thanks to everyone who has been following me on my foodie journey and giving me such encouragement!

Short acquaintance, *mad* respect. Transformation is good (usually) though painful (usually). When it is voluntary, it is better (usually). I look forward to more discussion about, er, one topic or another.

But not lutefisk. Haggis, yes, anytime- I married a Scotswoman, and have managed for her not to airlock me for 30 years. But at lutefisk, I must regretfully draw a line.

For your wise words. I left an entire life in New York City and started from scratch here in SoCal in an entirely different direction. It was voluntary, but only in terms of choosing to break out of four stone walls through a dark trap door. And here I am on the other side ready for a brand new adventure!

How unpredictable is life, eh?

P.S. Have never had lutefisk or haggis. But the Germans love their gooey smelly Limburger cheese and once I left home, I vowed to never look at it, or smell it again. Oy vey!

Short acquaintance, *mad* respect. Transformation is good (usually) though painful (usually). When it is voluntary, it is better (usually). I look forward to more discussion about, er, one topic or another.

But not lutefisk. Haggis, yes, anytime- I married a Scotswoman, and have managed for her not to airlock me for 30 years. But at lutefisk, I must regretfully draw a line.

Great to know you! Peace, and enjoy!

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9 users have voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger

For your wise words. I left an entire life in New York City and started from scratch here in SoCal in an entirely different direction. It was voluntary, but only in terms of choosing to break out of four stone walls through a dark trap door. And here I am on the other side ready for a brand new adventure!

How unpredictable is life, eh?

P.S. Have never had lutefisk or haggis. But the Germans love their gooey smelly Limburger cheese and once I left home, I vowed to never look at it, or smell it again. Oy vey!

The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

What the hell is it?
Ahhh, Lutefisk. After the larvae-ridden cheese, it's a blessed relief to sample a clean, down-to-earth Scandinavian recipe.

A little too clean.

Lutefisk is a traditional Norwegian dish featuring cod that has been steeped for many days in a solution of lye, until its flesh is caustic enough to dissolve silver cutlery.

Wait, it gets worse ...
For those of you who don't know, lye (potassium hydroxide/sodium hydroxide) is a powerful industrial chemical used for cleaning drains, killing plants, de-budding cow horns, powering batteries and manufacturing biodiesel. Contact with lye can cause chemical burns, permanent scarring, blindness or total deliciousness, depending on whether you pour it onto a herring or your own face. Or, so the lutefisk industry would have us believe.

Danger of this turning up in America:
IT'S ALREADY HERE! s**t!

It' true, lutefisk is more popular in the United States than in Norway. What the hell are they doing with it? They're not eating it are they? Is it because it' a cheap alternative to colonic irrigation? Seriously, how do you advertise this stuff?

@Anja Geitz
Well played. I’ve had two of them, which means that I do indeed have blue mud for brains. If anyone has had more than two, you have my deepest sympathy, and drinks are on me should we ever meet...

What the hell is it?
Ahhh, Lutefisk. After the larvae-ridden cheese, it's a blessed relief to sample a clean, down-to-earth Scandinavian recipe.

A little too clean.

Lutefisk is a traditional Norwegian dish featuring cod that has been steeped for many days in a solution of lye, until its flesh is caustic enough to dissolve silver cutlery.

Wait, it gets worse ...
For those of you who don't know, lye (potassium hydroxide/sodium hydroxide) is a powerful industrial chemical used for cleaning drains, killing plants, de-budding cow horns, powering batteries and manufacturing biodiesel. Contact with lye can cause chemical burns, permanent scarring, blindness or total deliciousness, depending on whether you pour it onto a herring or your own face. Or, so the lutefisk industry would have us believe.

Danger of this turning up in America:
IT'S ALREADY HERE! s**t!

It' true, lutefisk is more popular in the United States than in Norway. What the hell are they doing with it? They're not eating it are they? Is it because it' a cheap alternative to colonic irrigation? Seriously, how do you advertise this stuff?

If fermented newborn mice are worse than the unhatched quails boiled alive in their shells.

Now how about some lye to bleach out my brain after reading that!?!

#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Well played. I’ve had two of them, which means that I do indeed have blue mud for brains. If anyone has had more than two, you have my deepest sympathy, and drinks are on me should we ever meet...

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5 users have voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger

I could see that, but the other stuff? Yikes! Satan's cookbook indeed!

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4 users have voted.

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The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

@Anja Geitz
but it goes down much better with three or four shots of 100 Stoli, 3 Percodans, a Thorazine drip in lactated Ringer’s, and Randy Mantooth hitting you from behind on the base of the skull with a slightly deceased manatee.

And I mean no disrespect to Mr. Mantooth; he was a great inspiration in my young adulthood. But frankly, only he could wield a slightly deceased manatee with the proper panache.

Limburger would be a refreshing aperitif- a palate cleanser, so to speak. Chase it with Akavit with just a dash of raw sewage and a toenail twist, and we’re good to go!

Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little. But it is a hard eat, just the same.

#5.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 but it goes down much better with three or four shots of 100 Stoli, 3 Percodans, a Thorazine drip in lactated Ringer’s, and Randy Mantooth hitting you from behind on the base of the skull with a slightly deceased manatee.

And I mean no disrespect to Mr. Mantooth; he was a great inspiration in my young adulthood. But frankly, only he could wield a slightly deceased manatee with the proper panache.

Limburger would be a refreshing aperitif- a palate cleanser, so to speak. Chase it with Akavit with just a dash of raw sewage and a toenail twist, and we’re good to go!

Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little. But it is a hard eat, just the same.

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3 users have voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger

@Anja Geitz
As my parents drove off, in their "Just Married" car (a Dodge Dart), that was all decorated up, they opened the air vents because North Texas is hot in June, and there was no a/c in the car. Soon, they noticed a wretched stench. They pulled over, my dad popped the hood and they found it.

My mom's older brother had placed a hunk of limberger on the engine.

I've never eaten it, but from that 50 year old story, I know that it has one hell of an odor -- especially when heated lol!

For your wise words. I left an entire life in New York City and started from scratch here in SoCal in an entirely different direction. It was voluntary, but only in terms of choosing to break out of four stone walls through a dark trap door. And here I am on the other side ready for a brand new adventure!

How unpredictable is life, eh?

P.S. Have never had lutefisk or haggis. But the Germans love their gooey smelly Limburger cheese and once I left home, I vowed to never look at it, or smell it again. Oy vey!

You always have stories that make me laugh. What would the world be like without little brothers putting Limburger cheese under the hood of your car. Lol!

Nice to meet you!

#5.1
As my parents drove off, in their "Just Married" car (a Dodge Dart), that was all decorated up, they opened the air vents because North Texas is hot in June, and there was no a/c in the car. Soon, they noticed a wretched stench. They pulled over, my dad popped the hood and they found it.

My mom's older brother had placed a hunk of limberger on the engine.

I've never eaten it, but from that 50 year old story, I know that it has one hell of an odor -- especially when heated lol!

Bye zoe; and welcome Anja!

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1 user has voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger

I meant to PM you the other day and let you know about a referral I gave to a customer of mine who was very interested in getting political information from, er, sane people (lol). Apparently after spending some time here, she commented how informative your evening blues were. She said that she had not read about any of the news she's finding on our site and thanked me for the suggesting it.

Huzzah For C99 and the Evening Blues!

happy writing and portfolio building!

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10 users have voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger

The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.
– Albert Camus

It does feel like a BIG change. And I struggled with it for days. Do I out myself, or don't I? Not to mention feeling like I'm dissing the real zoebear whose out in the garden right now purring away oblivious that I just killed her online namesake. LOL.

...in life. A bold change is even better and more influential. Changing your name is always big!

Have fun with this.

Your friend,
Pluto

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8 users have voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger

It would be interesting to know how your awareness changes and how you change, and what the inner processes are. Also, the different and unexpected types of change you may realize along the way — and the sense of any change in your audience. Goals and plans may change along the way, as well. It would be interesting to track that.

It does feel like a BIG change. And I struggled with it for days. Do I out myself, or don't I? Not to mention feeling like I'm dissing the real zoebear whose out in the garden right now purring away oblivious that I just killed her online namesake. LOL.

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3 users have voted.

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The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.
– Albert Camus

I used to keep a journal but stopped because I got tired of hearing myself say the same things. Lol. But you brought up a good point. I'm in unchartered territory and while it will be interesting to look back at the progression, it might also be functional in organizing my thoughts and ideas.

It would be interesting to know how your awareness changes and how you change, and what the inner processes are. Also, the different and unexpected types of change you may realize along the way — and the sense of any change in your audience. Goals and plans may change along the way, as well. It would be interesting to track that.

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5 users have voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger

...for about 48+ hours, and there's this new "person" here, with the screen name: "Anja." I'm always busy when "the cool stuff" happens around here! LoL! (I'm writing this comment AFTER reading your note.)

...for about 48+ hours, and there's this new "person" here, with the screen name: "Anja." I'm always busy when "the cool stuff" happens around here! LoL! (I'm writing this comment AFTER reading your note.)

as great as Zoebear's, all will work out wonderfully. But please, please, please, scratch those lutefisks. I had to watch an image about what lutefisks are and when I understood what was meant, I shook my head. Unless you are a hard drinking and working sailor type guy, who needs to get sober, you wouldn't want to eat that stuff. You can find them here in almost any store that sells food, but I hate to admit I am not a fan of nordish cold fermented fish.

Waiting for some hot spicy goodies from the Southern hemisphere of the globe.

@mimi
they are even worse than the things I was thinking about they were. Sorry.

as great as Zoebear's, all will work out wonderfully. But please, please, please, scratch those lutefisks. I had to watch an image about what lutefisks are and when I understood what was meant, I shook my head. Unless you are a hard drinking and working sailor type guy, who needs to get sober, you wouldn't want to eat that stuff. You can find them here in almost any store that sells food, but I hate to admit I am not a fan of nordish cold fermented fish.

Waiting for some hot spicy goodies from the Southern hemisphere of the globe.

as great as Zoebear's, all will work out wonderfully. But please, please, please, scratch those lutefisks. I had to watch an image about what lutefisks are and when I understood what was meant, I shook my head. Unless you are a hard drinking and working sailor type guy, who needs to get sober, you wouldn't want to eat that stuff. You can find them here in almost any store that sells food, but I hate to admit I am not a fan of nordish cold fermented fish.

Waiting for some hot spicy goodies from the Southern hemisphere of the globe.

Good luck to you. Brave woman.

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0 users have voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger

Zoebear will be missed, but always with us hiding up in her tree, so that's all cool, I guess. Good luck with your portfolio. Do enjoy savor being Anja as I am sure we will all savor Anja's posts.

For the record, once, long ago in the wild craziness of youth I did partake of Lutefisk and Lefsa. I am here as living proof that it is not necessarily fatal, though I will surely never do so again. My sensory memory, poor as it is, recalls something far less palatable, though differently so, than raw peyote but without any of the beneficial after effects. The Lefsa, FWIW, wasn't all that bad though.

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4 users have voted.

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

I will miss zoebear too. But like Janis and you pointed out, I will still have my little tree

Thanks for stopping by and wishing me well.

Zoebear will be missed, but always with us hiding up in her tree, so that's all cool, I guess. Good luck with your portfolio. Do enjoy savor being Anja as I am sure we will all savor Anja's posts.

For the record, once, long ago in the wild craziness of youth I did partake of Lutefisk and Lefsa. I am here as living proof that it is not necessarily fatal, though I will surely never do so again. My sensory memory, poor as it is, recalls something far less palatable, though differently so, than raw peyote but without any of the beneficial after effects. The Lefsa, FWIW, wasn't all that bad though.

up

1 user has voted.

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Play me another broken record Joe. Maybe then I'll learn why we pay twice as much for healthcare as everybody else in the world. ~ Not Henry Kissinger